Three dimensional electric field analysis in spacer cable systems

In this work, three dimensional finite element modeling is used to compute the electric field distribution on a spacer cable system. The electric field for different compatibility test configurations is computed in order to show the differences observed between the use of single phase and three phase power supply to energize the test setup. According to the simulation results, the electric field enhancement seen around the seat area of the spacer in contact with the cable can be reduced by reducing the dielectric permittivity of the materials; however, materials with low permittivity can be difficult to obtain for this application. It is considered that, instead of trying to reduce and find exact match of materials permittivity, tracking resistance must be improved as much as possible in order to extend the service life of the system.